Our First Swimming Lesson

Bill and I decided that this year was the year for Brody to start swimming lessons and today was the first day. It was great. Brody did so good and he made me so proud. There are 8 kids in the class and Brody is one of the only little boys. Bryan (his best friend) is also in the class, however, he did not make it half way through the session. He wants no part of swimming lessons or the big pool. So his mom and dad took him home.

I have been very worried about these classes. I was worried he was going to just want to play or worse, not even get in the water. Was I wrong, he listened to his teachers and did everything they asked.

He blew bubbles, put his entire face in the water, kicked and splashed alot, jumped off the side (of course, his teacher was there to catch him) and went down the slide (he doesn't even go down the slide at the park). I can not say it enought of how proud I am of him. He is getting to be such a big boy.

I have a couple of pictures but I will be getting more this week and next week.

Another First!!!

I have been so busy, I have not had a chance to post the latest "First" with Brody!!! Everyone knows he is a perfect child, always is on his best behavior (at home and school) and is the perfect "student". The last couple of weeks, Brody and his two best buds, Bryan and Landon, have been having a little trouble at school. I think it is a combination of a couple of issues, they see each other 9 hours a day, 5 days a week and maybe they are a little bored in their class now. Last week I received a call from daycare that I needed to come over and bring B.J. (Bryan's dad) with me. The boys were in trouble and they were in the office. (I guess it is a good thing that we work next door to the daycare???) We walk over and there are the 3 muskateers. All standing in the office, LAUGHING!!! It seems they just could not catch a bubble (no talking in class) so the teachers put each one in the corner on opposite ends of the class. They continued to talk, laugh and roll around on the floor. In the midst of all this, Brody is trying to eat a book, Bryan is licking the book and, well, I am not exactly for sure what Landon was doing at this point. The teachers had had enough so off to the principals office they go. Anyway, we walk in and all the boys are laughing like it is a game. I grab Brody and head off to the bathroom for a little talk. As we are walking down the hall, he is yelling: "No mommy, don't spank my butt!!!" I can hear the teachers laughing now, how am I to keep a straight face. No, I do not give him a spanking, there is no need. I have a very stern conversation with him and let him know that when we get home there will be no playing outside, no riding his bicycle, no feeding the chickies and no watching Alvin and the Chipmunks. You would have thought I took his world away, I guess I did to him. We go back to the office and the other two boys are talking to their parent. (Landon's mom works at the daycare.) We instruct the boys they are not going to get to play or talk to each other the rest of the day. As we are walking away, they are still laughing. Poor Mrs. Linda, she was having a hard time with the boys. (Mrs. Linda is the magic bean lady and she just loves Brody. While she is talking to him, she tells him he is not going to get any more magic beans. It broke his heart.) They had a pretty good rest of the day and Brody has not been in too much trouble since. I am sure this is not as funny to anyone else but me but if you could have the seen the boys. 3 - 3 year olds, in the principals office. It was a sight.

I do believe this is just one of many calls from the office in the next 16 years of his life.

Another first and kind of a sad one for me is, Brody no longer calls me mommy, I am momma. My baby is growing up. He is getting to be such a big boy!!!

Happy Father's Day, Bill!!!

I want to wish a Happy Father's Day to my wonderful husband. He is a great daddy to Brody. Bill you are a wonderful daddy and Brody loves you so much. If he could type, he would be doing this himself. Who knows, if I would let him, he might just be able to do this. Thank you so much for your love and for your unconditional love for Brody. I could not ask for anything more!!! I love you!!

Happy Father's Day!!!

I know I am a little late but I wanted to wish my daddy a Happy Father's Day!!! This is the first Father's Day in many years that I have not been with him but I know he is having the time of his life with Vonda and Edgar. What a way to spend the day, in Ireland!!!

I would like to thank my dad for everything he has done and all the things he will do for me. He always has a great listening ear when I need to just vent and never offers any suggestions unless I ask and he is always there when I need a little help with Brody.

I want to thank my dad for everything he has taught me through the years, patience (yeah, maybe I haven't learned that so well, but I am trying), persistance, honesty and love. He is also a wonderful cook in the family. No wonder we are all on WW!!!

I also want to thank him for being a great Papaw to Brody. I could not ask for more. I am so thankful that dad was there with me when Brody was brought into this world. I am also thankful that Brody has a wonderful Papaw that he is going to have many more years with.

Thank you for everything and I hope you had a great Father's Day!!! I love you!!!

Tragedy in the hen house

Living in the country and raising animals you never know what is going to happen. However, what happened to us Wednesday night, you hope will never happen. As you know, we purchased 55 baby chicks last month. After a quick count a couple of days after we received them, we realized they had shorted us 8 chicks so we were down to 47 baby chicks. Still plenty to supply eggs to our family and friends. Everything was going great, the chicks were growing, getting their wings and learning to fly, a little. When Bill got home Thursday, he headed down to feed and water them, he never expected to see the sight that he saw. We had 20 chicks dead. Some wild animal had burrowed under the coup and had dinner - on us. Bill quickly counted and we are now down to only 16 chicks. The balance of the chicks has not been found. We are so heartbroken. Brody was so mad he told Bill to go and get his gun and kill whatever got his chickies. We found the hole and have fixed it hoping not to have the problem again.

Magic Beans

This is an addition to the last post about the video store.

Friday when I was picking up Brody from school, he had to go and say good-bye to Mrs. Linda. Of course, she offers him a snack. Today it is strawberry cake and BEANS!!! After he has about 1 cup of beans she offers to send the balance of the beans home which is about 2 quarts. Brody is so excited because he loves beans. He looks around and finds a spoon for the ride home. As we are walking down the hall, Brody looks at me and says, "Mommy, these are my magic beans!!" I have no idea where he came up with that. After we get in the car, I call Bill to let him know we are on our way home. He said to not be in any hurry because he is going to be working late so for us to grab dinner before we get home. Any guesses on what Brody wants, beans and rice. While we are driving to the Mexican food joint, he is eating his magic beans. When he gets up Saturday morning, he wants magic beans for breakfast. Mid-day Saturday, those magic beans where making magic noises in his belly.

How much info does a video store need?

Friday, after work, Brody and I decided to go and rent a movie. Bill was working late so I thought it would be a nice and relaxing evening. We headed north after we had dinner of beans and rice. (who would have thought Brody would suggest beans and rice). I decided to go to Love Video in Eddy (yes, they do have family friendly movies also) since it is right down the rode. Brody was so excited, it was his first time in a video place. He soon saw Alvin and the Chickmunks ($3.00), yes that is what he calls it. We also picked up the Lion King ($1.00). I go to the check-out and they ask my name so they can pull up my membership. Of course they can not find it because I have never rented from them, neither has Bill. So she tells me to step around the corner so she can show me what I needed to provide in order to have a membership so I could rent 2 movies totaling $4.00. These people must be out of their mind. Here is a list of a couple of items they needed:

1. Name (of course)

2. Current physical address (they only rent to Eddy & the surrounding areas)

3. 2 phone numbers

4. A copy of drivers license

5. 2 forms of I.D. (besides #4)

6. Social Security Number (are they CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!!)

7. A copy of a current utility bill (water, electric, phone)

8. A copy of a major credit card

9. Place & phone number of employer

At that, I looked at the clerk and told her she must be out of her mind. I only wanted to rent a Disney movie. She said, well, that is what they ask for. So in so many words, I told her she was crazy and we would never step foot in that store again. What the *#@ do they need with all that information???????????

So we came home with no movie so we headed up the York's to hang out by the swimming pool. We had so much fun. Bill finally arrived home around 10:30.

Now on Saturday we just hung around the house doing laundry & stuff like that. Rita came by & said they were going to have some beverages by the pool because Stacy & Conley were in town. You know we headed up for the VIP party. It was such a relaxing afternoon. Brody got in the pool, hung on to me for dear life but then he warmed up and hung on to the water noodle. I think we finally left around midnite.

Sunday we rested. Oh yeah, we did go to Wal-Mart and buy Alvin & the Chickmunks for Brody. He stayed up and watched it with Bill Sunday night and he loved it. He laughed so much. It was really fun to watch him and his reactions.

Bill & Brody had a day together on Monday, Bill was off for the day. They went into Waco and visited with grandma. Bill said they watched Alvin about 4 times.

On a different subject, if you remember a couple of posts ago, I talked about the wonderful songs Brody can sing. He has started working towards his audition on America Idol I do believe. He will be singing and all of a sudden he will say - Mommy, check out this song. He cracks me up. Today he sang about an umbrella, gold fish jumping in the air and swimming in the pool. He does not have one that he sings over and over yet, but I am sure that is only coming in time.

Hope everyone has a great week!!!